Hawaii Supreme Court: teachers can strike, Lingle behind GOP coup, HGEA backs Hirono, Army to train on Mauna Kea, shipping prices drop, coral in danger, government and politics news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Supreme Court building (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

The state Supreme Court rejected Tuesday a request by the Hawaii State Teachers Association to compel the Hawaii Labor Relations Board to issue a quick ruling on whether teachers deserve immediate relief from a new two-year contract imposed by the state. Star-Advertiser.

The Supreme Court of Hawaii has ruled that the teachers union has the right to strike once its current complaint before the Labor Relations Board is resolved. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Government Employees Association, the state's largest public-sector labor union, has endorsed U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. Star-Advertiser.

Jonah-Kuhio Kalanianaole Kaauwai 's decision to resign as chair of the Hawaii Republican Party yesterday is a victory for former Gov. Linda Lingle, and her followers, but not necessarily for local conservatives. Hawaii Reporter.

A closer examination of party finances under former chair Jonah Kaauwai shows that the Hawaii Republican Party owes tens of thousand of dollars for unpaid credit card bills and political mailers. Civil Beat.

The new chairwoman of the Maui County Republican Party said that while Jonah Kaauwai demonstrated he was a "very hardworking" and "admirable" person, his inability to raise money for campaigns led to his resignation Monday as chairman of the Hawaii Republican Party. Maui News.

Hawaii Congressional Delegation Hosts Fundraiser for House Hopeful Tammy Duckworth. Hawaii Reporter.

Pasha Hawaii Transport Lines lowered its fuel surcharge Tuesday by 3 percentage points. Pacific Business News.

The commission overseeing how the Department of Education spent federal stimulus money learned Tuesday that $115 million of it paid for teacher salaries. Hawaii News Now.

The University of Hawaii is proposing tuition increases for the entire state system beginning next year. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

A City Council committee has put its stamp of approval on the installation of 34 security cameras across key sections of Oahu in preparation for the arrival of 21 world leaders and their entourages for this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperative summit in Waikiki in November. Star-Advertiser.

Efforts made last week by members of Oahu’s North Shore community resulted in a stop to a proposed redistricting that would have made the Sunset Beach area a part of the Koolauloa district. Hawaii Independent.

Rail Transit Town Hall Meeting Draws Crowd. KITV4.

Hundreds of postal workers and their supporters converged at the state capitol, one of nearly 500 such rallies across the country Tuesday. KHON2.

Hawaii

A settlement reached Tuesday requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Service to decide in about seven months whether 82 coral species will be listed as endangered or threatened. West Hawaii Today.

The state granted the Army a short-term "right-of-entry" permit to conduct high-altitude helicopter training on Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on Hawaii island next month, but said if the service wants to do the training in the future, it needs to do a full state environmental impact statement, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

A geothermal development company seeking a private-public partnership for energy production on Hawaii Island will hold community meetings this week. West Hawaii Today.

Big Island business and tourism officials told state senators how the Hilo side was wasting its visitor industry potential. Tribune-Herald.

County Planning Director Bobby Jean Leithead Todd issued a preliminary subdivision plan approval for the Villages at Aina Lea, despite the revocation of the property's urban land use classification. West Hawaii Today.

Christmas is coming early for lower Puna residents wanting to participate in the legislative branch of local government. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

For now it looks like F&H Construction has won the contract to build the new Kihei Police Station, according to county Department of Finance Director Danny Agsalog. Maui News.

The inaugural flight of an emergency medical helicopter to Maui Memorial Medical Center's new $3 million helipad drew more than two dozen people Monday afternoon. Maui News.

Kauai
A controversial county Salary Commission resolution squeezed through a special Kaua‘i County Council meeting Tuesday and is on track to become law next week after a split vote. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i County Councilman Mel Rapozo on Tuesday afternoon filed a complaint with the county Board of Ethics, requesting an advisory opinion on the actions of Boards and Commissions Administrator John Isobe and the county Salary Commission. Garden Island.